Vladimir Putin embraces diplomatic limelight as leaders of expanded BRICS gather in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting the annual summit of BRICS, a high-prestige stage that offers him an opportunity to showcase his defiance of U.S.-led efforts to isolate his regime and punish the Kremlin for its decision to invade Ukraine more than two years ago.
Mr. Putin’s posturing is clearly meant to send a reassuring signal to average Russians that even though powerful and prosperous democracies in North America, Europe and East Asia have turned the diplomatic and economic screws on Russia since the Ukraine invasion, their nation is neither contained nor ostracized.
The 2024 BRICS summit, the sixteenth gathering of a group that originally included just Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, runs from October 22-24 in the Russian city of Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. Mr. Putin will welcome both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the world’s most populous countries and, respectively, the world’s second- and fifth-largest economies.
The grouping has grown markedly in recent years: The leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Turkey, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are coming to Kazan, though Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, citing health concerns, will attend via video conference.
In all, up to 32 foreign delegations, including those from rising economies such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, are anticipated. There is even speculation that North Korea, whose relations with Russia have been warming rapidly, may send a delegation.
Another question is whether the body will, in the wake of the summit, expedite the membership of NATO member Turkey, which has announced its desire to join.